oval shape diamond engagement ring

Oval

The oval cut diamond is a perfect choice for those who are looking for characteristics similar to the iconic brilliant diamond but with added allure and eccentricity.

The elongated shape of an oval cut diamond will optimise carat weight in your ring design and make it appear slightly larger than other shapes. This particular shape will also make the wearer’s fingers seem slender and longer.

So for a unique twist on the traditional round brilliant diamond, look no further than an oval cut stone.

What You Need to Know About Oval Diamonds

As you would expect from its name, the oval diamond is a symmetrical, elongated rounded shape that features a similar level of fire and brilliance to that of the brilliant diamond.

Typically making up around 15% of engagement ring sales, oval cut diamonds are the second most popular shape after round. But their increased surface area means an oval diamond optimises carat weight, meaning the stone often appears larger.

Not only does this enhance the aesthetic appeal of oval shaped diamonds, it also represents an extremely economical choice.

History and Origins of Oval Diamonds

The oval diamond is a relatively recent shape when compared to similar cuts like the round and pear. It was created in 1957 by Russian-born diamond cutter Lazare Kaplan, the nephew of Abraham Tolkowsky who was famous for inventing the ideal cut.

Before coming up with the modern oval cut, Kaplan gained notoriety for his ability to turn cracked or defective diamonds into some of the most valuable stones at the time. Some of these diamonds were so flawed that other diamond cutters regarded them as useless or worthless.

Kaplan's talent wasn't fully known until he invented the modern oval cut, which earned him a spot in the Jewelers International Hall of Fame. His design has since been worn by the likes of Kate Middleton, Serena Williams, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.

A Guide to the Cut, Colour and Clarity of Oval Diamonds

Cut

The beauty, sparkle, and elegance of a pear shaped diamond can only come from the quality of its cut. Pear diamonds that are not well cut show dark bow-ties and can leak light instead of reflecting it.

Colour

Evaluating colour in pear diamonds is important because they can show more colours than other shapes, especially in its point. If you want an ice-white diamond, it is best to stick to the D-F colour range. You may be able to get away with grades lower than this, but a lot depends on the size of the stone.

Clarity

Most people will purchase a pear shaped diamond that is at least eye clean i.e. it doesn't show any inclusions to the naked eye. Because pears are effectively a combination of round and marquise cut diamonds, they hide blemishes rather well within their brilliance and sparkle.

Oval Diamond Ring Settings

Ovals pair well with many rings, but their unique shape means they don’t flow well with every band design. Popular options include:

Solitaire

The solitaire is perhaps the most popular oval ring setting, as it effortlessly allows the unique shape and brilliance of the center stone to stand out.

Halo

The fire and brilliance of an oval cut is amplified by the surrounding shimmer of a halo setting. It’s a great way to enhance smaller oval stones too.

Antique

It may seem counterintuitive to select an antique setting for the relatively modern oval stone, but the elongated shapes and symmetry is reminiscent of Edwardian and Art Deco trends.

Tips for Buying Oval Diamonds

Oval diamonds can possess a bow-tie effect, which occurs when the light doesn’t bounce into the middle of the diamond. This is because of the way the diamond is cut. It’s an undesirable trait in diamonds, so be sure to avoid.
When looking for an oval, make sure to always maximise measurements. For example, a lower carat oval with larger measurements that's ideally cut could represent better value.
Keep in mind that taller and longer oval stones look sharper, while shorter ones adhere to the traditional rounder shape.
If you’d like a rose gold or yellow gold setting for your engagement ring, choosing an oval shaped diamond with a colour range G-J is a great choice. The warm tones from the metal will mask any minor colour present in the diamond.

4C Of Diamond

Diamond Color

GIA developed the definitive diamond color scale or chart in the early 1950s, a time when there were a lot of different and subjective terms in the marketplace for describing a diamond’s color: white, blue white, AAAA, for example.

The GIA scale begins with the letter D, representing colorlessness, and continues with increasing presence of color to the letter Z, representing light yellow, light brown or light gray. The 23 color grades on the GIA Color Scale (or diamond color chart) are subdivided into five subcategories, which are: colorless (D-F); near colorless (G-J); faint (K-M); very light (N-R); and light (S-Z).

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Diamond Clarity

Diamond Clarity refers to the inclusions and blimishes.

To understand diamond clarity, we must first understand how diamonds are created. Natural diamonds are the result of carbon exposed to tremendous heat and pressure deep in the earth. This process can result in a variety of internal characteristics called ‘inclusions’ and external characteristics called ‘blemishes.’

Evaluating diamond clarity involves determining the number, size, relief, nature, and position of these characteristics, as well as how these affect the overall appearance of the stone. If you are trying to determine what is the best clarity for a diamond, remember that no diamond is perfectly pure. But the closer it comes to purity, the better its clarity

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Diamond Cut

Achieving the best cut for a diamond reflects in the stone’s final beauty and value.

Diamonds are renowned for their ability to transmit light and sparkle so intensely. We often think of a diamond’s cut as shape (round, heart, oval, marquise, pear), but what diamond cut actually does mean how well a diamond’s facets interact with light. Precise artistry and workmanship are required to fashion a stone so its proportions, symmetry and polish deliver the magnificent return of light only possible in a diamond.

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Carat Weight

Diamond carat weight measures Diamonds Apparent size.

To put it simply, diamond carat weight measures how much a diamond weighs.

A metric “carat” is defined as 200 milligrams. Each carat is subdivided into 100 ‘points.’ This allows very precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place. A jeweler may describe the weight of a diamond below one carat by its ‘points’ alone. For instance, the jeweler may refer to a diamond that weighs 0.25 carats as a ‘twenty-five pointer.’ Diamond weights greater than one carat are expressed in carats and decimals. A 1.08 carat stone would be described as ‘one point oh eight carats.’

All else being equal, diamond price increases with diamond carat weight because larger diamonds are rarer and more desirable. However, two diamonds of equal carat weight can have very different values (and prices) depending on three other factors of the diamond 4Cs : Color , Clarity , and Cut

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